Tripod stand for panoramic cinematographic cameras.



24s. SUPPORTS,

TRIPOD STAND FOB PANORAMIG GINBMA'IOGRAPHIG CAMERAS.

APPLIOATIoN FILED un. 1s, 1914.

1,126,720. Patented Feb. 2,1915.

l a snBBTs-SHBBT 1. I @l 18 luv? THE MORRIS PEIEES DOQ. PHOTO-LITRO..WASHINGI'ON. D. C'.

24s. SUPPORTS,

A. DEBRIE. TRIPOD STAND FOB PANORAMIGCINEMATOGRAPHIG GAMERAS. vAPI'LIOATION FILED MAB.. 18, 1914. 1,126,720. Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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'248. SUPPQRTS,

TRIPOD STAND FOB. PANORAMIG CINEMATOGRAPHIG CAMERAS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18, 1914.

1,126,720. Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.*

Wz'Zn esss In verl Zo!" THE NORRIS PETERS C0.. PHOTolLlTHo.. WASHINGION.Ul c aas. suesoms.

ANDRE DEBBIE, or Panis, FRANCE.

TRIPOD- STAND FOR PANORAMIC CINEMATOGRAPHIC CAMERAS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

Application led March 18, 1914. Serial No. 825,682.

To all whom 'it may concern:

the mechanisms. The movement of this platform in vertical direction isobtained the upper platform 9 by means of a screw 18.

Be it known that I, ANDRE DEBBIE, a citiby means of a screw which isfixed to said zen of the French Republic, residing at platform andadapted to turn in a nut fixed Paris, in the Republic of France, haveinto the panoramic platform. The different vented certain new and usefulImprovemovements of this apparatus are regulated ments. in Tripod Standsfor Panoramic with a view to suppress play and to make CinematographicCameras, of which the folthe movement easy. lowing is a specification.In the accompanying drawings the 1m- The tripod stands for the camerasdeproved tripod is shown. signed to take panoramic views are gen- Figure1 is a vertical section of the head erally composed of two superposedplatof the tripod. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section forms, a horizontalrotating panoramic platon line A*B of Fig. l taken in the plane formprovided with a worm engaging with of the axis` on the worm of thepanoramic a toothed crown carried by the head of the platform. Fig. 3 isa vertical section of tripod, and a platform called the vertical thepanoramic platform. Figs. 4, 5, 6 and platform which is adapted to pivotaround 7 show constructional details. l a horizontal axle supported bythe pano- The head l of the tripod is mounted upon ramic platform. Witha great number of the three feet which are not shown in the apparatusesof known constructions these drawing. This head has the shape of a cup.two platforms consist of separate parts to At the center of the bottomof the head 1 a be connected with one another only at the tubular sleeve2 is arranged. Upon the moment when the tripod stand is to be upper rimof the head 1 a toothed crown 75 used. wherefrom results loss of time,cum- 3 is fixed. The panoramic platform 4: rests bersome size of theapparatus and want of upon this crown 3 by means of a roller pathrigidity. With other apparatuses where the 5 provided with an innerguide flange 6. two platforms are always connected the one A verticaltube 7 projects downwardly from with the other, the vertical` platformthe center of the panoramic platform 4.

' is mounted upon an axle situated above At one side of the panoramicplatform 4 the panoramic platform, wherefrom results (left hand sideFig. 1) a horizontal tubular cumbersome size and want of rigidity. Thecasing 82 is arranged which has bearings in different movements of theelements of which a worm 8 is located which meshes these tripods areobtained by means of dewith the teeth of the crown 3. 85 vices withoutprecision which easily wear The upper or vertical platform 9 is andconsequently have a certain play. The mounted upon bearings carried bythe horimain condition to be fulfilled by a panozontal tubular casing 32and which have ramic tripod is that there is no play, that approximatelythe same axis as the worm all the movements of its parts are easy and 8.This upper platform 9 has at its right 90 that the cinematographicapparatus moves hand side a downwardly projecting screw with perfectcontinuity. If these condispindle 10 adapted to turn in a tube 11 tionsare not realized the pictures projected fixed to said upper platform. Anut 12 fromthe films will flicker and jerk. (Figs. 1 and 5) in two parts57, 58 screwed This invention has for its purpose to imupon said spindle10 is located in the tube 95 prove the construction of a cinematographic11 and has two journals 1.3 projecting tripod in such a manner that thevertical through longitudinal slots of the tube 11 platform is pivotable around the axis of and engaging with bearings carried by armsthe worm carried by the horizontal plat- 14 which are pivotally mountedupon axles form which worm serves for moving the 15 fixed to thepanoramic platform l1. The 100 horizontal platform whereby the size ofthe screw spindle 10 has at its upper end a apparatus is reducedconsiderably. This toothed crown 16 which meshes; with a worm verticalplatform having a downwardly 17 mounted in bearings on the upperplatturned ange, forms a kind of cap which form 9. f covers the head ofthe tripod and projects The cinematographic camera is fixed upon I nut12 being maintained by the arms 14,

it goes up or down and makes the upper platform 9 oscillate around itspivot. During this movement the angle of inclination of the screwspindle 10 with regard to the vertical varies slightly and this movementis compensated by the pivotal arms 14 which support the nut 12.

In order to mount the panoramic plat' form 4 without any play upon thesupport 1,.

a tube 19 is arranged in the tubular sleeve 2 of the support, said tube19 having a collar 2O which bears against the lower edge of the tubularsleeve. The upper end of the tube 19 is threaded and a ring 21 isscrewed upon it which bears upon the upper edge of the tubular sleeve 2.

In the cylindrical sleeve 7 of the `panoramic platform a tube 22 ismounted which has a collar 23 bearing against the lower end of saidtubular sleeve 7 and pressed against the same by means of an internallythreaded cap 24 screwed upon the externally threaded lower end of saidtubularsleeve 7. The tube 22 is telescoped into the tube 19 and projectsfrom the lower end of the same. The lower end 25 of the tube 22 isthreaded and a nut 26 screwed upon this lower end bears against thelowerend 27 of the tube 19. The platform 4 is thus liiXed upon thesupport l in such a manner that any play in the rotation of the platform4 with regard to the support 1 is avoided.

In order to insure the adjustability of the connection between thepanoramic platform 4 and the cup-shaped support 1 the nut 26 is securedin its position upon the lower end 25 of the tube 22 by means of a screw29 located in an appropriate cavity of said nut and engaging withring-shaped helicoidal teeth 28 on the lower end of said tube 22. If,after the nut 26 has been screwed tightly upon the lower end 25 of thetube 22, the horizontal screw 29 is screwed in, it secures the nut 26 inits position. lf the screw 29 is turned the nut 26 is tightened orloosened with great precision. The pressure with which the roller path 5of the platform 4 is pulled against the crown 3 of the support can beexactly regulated by means of said vhorizontal screw 29. The teeth 28cannot react upon the screw 29 as this gearing is irreversible.

The worm 8 is mounted in the casing 32 of the panoramic platform 4 insuch a manner that it can be easily thrown in or out of gear which 1snecessary as the cinematographic apparatus must often be brought fromone azimuth to the other, for example, if the subject to becinematographed has to be changed.

Further, in order to insure the easy movement of the worm and to avoidplay, the position of throwing in gear must be determined with greatprecision. wWith this object in View the worm 8 is mounted with greateccentricity in a coupling sleeve 30, said sleeve being mounted with,little eccentricity in a regulating sleeve 31.

The regulating sleeve 31 is mounted in a wide bearing of the casing 32of the platform. The position of this regulating sleeve in the bearingis insured by means of helicoidal teeth 33 on said sleeve (Fig. 2) whichmesh with a screw 34 screwed into appropriate bearings in the casing 32so that it stands perpendicular to the axis of the regulating sleeve 31.This screw 34 serves for compensating the wear of the worm 8 and of theteeth of the crown 3. The initial position of this regulating sleeve issuch that the worm can be moved toward the teeth of the crown 3.

The coupling sleeve is adapted to turn in said regulating sleeve 31,`this turning movement being obtained by means of a finger projectingfrom the coupling sleeve through a slot in the casing. The end positionsof this nger 35 aredetermined by stops arranged on the casing 32. Theworm 8 can be rapidly pushed in gear or moved out of gear with teeth ofthe crown 3 by a pressure or pull exerted upon said finger 35.

It is not necessary that the coupling position obtained by means of thisfinger 35 is defined with great precision as this position correspondswith the dead point position of the worm 8 in its eccentric sleeve 31.

The upper platform 9 has collars 36-37 which are .mounted upon bearings38-39 placed over the ends of the regulating sleeve 31.

The regulation of the position of the 11S worm 8 in axial direction andthe regula tion of the position of its two eccentric sleeves is obtainedin the following manner: The worm 8 is turned by means of a collar 40which through the intermediary of a 115 washer 41 bears upon the collar36 which in its turn bears upon the end 42 of the tubular casing 32. Atthe other end a washer 43 bears upon the collar 37 which in its turnbears against the end 44 of the tubular cas- 120 ing 32. The end of theworm 8 is mainn tained by a safety nut 45 of similar construction to thenut 26 in the tube 22 herein before described with reference to Figs. 1and 6. This nut 45 is screwed upon thc 125 threaded end 46 of the worm 8and has a tion is obtained.

aaa. SUPPORTS,

The two sleeves 30, 31 are not xed in the direction of their axes asthis is not necessary.

The screw spindle 10 is mounted in the following manner: The tube 11Figs. 1 and 4 has a iiange 49 at its upper end which bears against thelower surface of the platform 9. The tubell has two longitudinal slots50.

In the lower surface of the platform 9 a cavity is arranged in which aregulating screw 51 and the screw cap 52 of the same are located. Theregulating screw 51 has a slotted head 53 located in an aperture of theplatform 9 so that it is easily accessible. The nut 51 has further aconical nipple 54 projecting from its lower surface. The bottom plate 55of the tube 11 has an upwardly projecting conical nipple 56. The screwspindle 10 has appropriate notches at its upper and lower ends withwhich engage said conical nipples 54 and 56 which thus form the pivotsaround which said `screw spindle can turn.

The nut 12 has conical journals 13 the surface of which is inclined atan angle of about 3. These journals project through the slots 50 of thetube 11. The nut 12, as well as the journals, are composed of two parts57, 58 separated by a horizontal gap 61.

4The journals 13 are supported by arms 14 adapted to pivot around axles15 fixed in lugs 62 on the panoramic platform 4.

The journal bearings 63 of the arms 14 are conical.

Springs 64 located between the angle irons fixed to the platform 4 andthe outer faces of theV arms 14 press said arms continuously toward thejournals 13 so that any play between the nut 12 and the screw spindle 10is avoided.

The collars 65 by means of which the arms 14 are mounted upon the axles15 are slotted at the lower part and provided with two downwardlyprojecting arms 66, 67 connected by means of a screw 68 so that any playbetween the collar 65 of the arm 14 and its axle 15 is suppressed.

For regulating the position of the screw spindle 10 between the conicalnipples 54, 56 the regulating screw 51 is turned in its threaded cap 52.

In the upper surface of the regulating screw 51 holes 69 (Fig. 6) arearranged with which a small screw 7 O (Fig. 1) can engage arranged inthe upper surface of the platform 9. After the position of the regulat-4 ing screw 51 has been regulated this screw is fixed by means of thesmall screw engaging with the hole 69 which registers with it. The uppersurface of the platform 9 can, for example, have three holes for thestop screw 70 the distance between these three holes beingv equal to thedistance between holes 69 of the regulating screw 51 lplus respectivelyand of this distance whereby a much greater precision is obtained thanif there was provided only one hole for the stop screw 70.

The screw 18 which serves for fixing the cinematographic camera upon theplatform 9 can be manipulated from below the tripod head by means of thefollowing mechanism: This screw 18 has a flange 71 located in a cavityof a screw stopper 72, said iiange being maintained in the cavity bymeans of a bottom plate 73. In the flange 71 is a link 74 and upon thislink 74 a second link 75 is hinged and a rod 76 is mounted upon thelower link. This rod 76 projects through the nut 26 and carries at itslower end a hand wheel 77. A helical spring 78 which is wound aroundsaid rod 76 bears with one end upon the bottom of the nut 26 and withthe other end against a shoulder 79 on the rod 76 so that the screwl 18is pushed up. In order to fix the cinematographic camera upon the tripodit has simply to be placed upon the platform 9, the elastically mountedscrew- 18 being pushed back. When said screw registers with thecorresponding hole in the bottom plate of the camera it is screwed intothe nut of the camera by turning the hand wheel 77.

The rod 76 can participate in the oscillating movements of the platform9 around its horizontal axle 31 owing to the Cardan joints of the twolinks 74 and 75.

I claim:

1. A panoramic tripod for cinematographic cameras comprising incombination, a panoramic platform, an upper or ven tical platformmounted on said panoramic platform and serving as cover for the same, ahead of the tripod, a toothed crown on the tripod head, a central tubeconnecting said panoramic platform with said tripod, a safety nut fixingsaid tube in position, bearings on the panoramic platform, a r gulat ingsleeve adapted to turn within said bearings, a coupling sleeve mountedwith little eccentricity in said coupling sleeve, means for moving theupper platform in vertical direction, means for fixing thecinematographic camera at the center of the upper platform, and meansfor manipulating the camera from below the tripod head substantially 'asdescribed and shown and for the purpose set forth.

2. A panoramic tripod for cinematographic cameras comprising incombination, a panoramic platform, an upper or vertical platform mountedon said panoramic platform and serving as cover for the same, a head ofthe tripod, a toothed crown on the tripod head, a central tubeconnecting said panoramic platform with said tripod, a safety nut fixingsaid tube in position, means for rotating the cinematographic Vplatformon the tripod, a tubular casing with two opposite slots fixed ton thelower surface of sald upper platforn, a screw spindlein said tubularcasing, .a toothed crown of said screw spindle, a driving worm in theupper platform meshing' with said toothed crown of the tripod head-meansfor fixing the cine- Inato'raphic camera atthe center of the upperpt'atformyand means' for manipulating the camera from below the tripodhead, 10 substantially as described and shown and for the purposesetforth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses. ANDR DEBBIE. Witnesses GHAs. P. PREssLY, ANON BELZIE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of` latents.

' Washington, D. 0.

